China completes 6-km artificial island in South China Sea's Paracels
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China has completed the main phase of a new artificial island in the Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea. Satellite imagery shows a former submerged reef transformed into a landmass of about 600 hectares and nearly 6 kilometers long in just 10 months. The island includes a 680-meter pier and more than 50 buildings.
Key Facts
- The new island covers about 600 hectares and is nearly 6 kilometers long.
- Construction took only 10 months, according to experts analyzing satellite images.
- The island has a 680-meter pier and more than 50 buildings, a helipad, a concrete plant, and mobile power stations.
- Experts from CSIS and the Lowy Institute say this is China's first large-scale island expansion in the South China Sea since 2017.
Island Construction
China has completed the main phase of building a new artificial island in the Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea. Satellite imagery analyzed by experts shows that a previously submerged reef became a large landmass in just 10 months. The newly formed area is about 600 hectares and nearly 6 kilometers long. Experts say it could become one of China's largest facilities in the South China Sea.
Military Infrastructure
The island has a 680-meter pier, and the reef's lagoon is being converted into a deep-water harbor capable of receiving large ships. Satellite images show more than 50 buildings, a helipad, the foundation of a large facility, a concrete plant, and mobile power stations. Experts note that a straight coastal section over three kilometers long on the northwest side could accommodate a runway for large military aircraft. Military experts say the new facility has high strategic importance and could expand China's control capabilities in the region.
Regional Implications
CSIS and Lowy Institute experts assess that this shows China has resumed large-scale island expansion in the South China Sea since 2017. The facility could extend the operational range of air defense, electronic warfare, and radar systems if tensions near Taiwan escalate.
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China completes 6-km artificial island in South China Sea's Paracels
